What does the Trump administration's lawsuit against LA mean for the city’s sanctuary laws?
The Department of Justice is suing Los Angeles over its sanctuary city policies, according to court documents filed today. In the lawsuit, the department accuses the city of “deliberately obstructing the enforcement of federal immigration law,” U.S. Attorney Bill Essayli said in a statement. The department blames the ordinance for why it deployed the National Guard and U.S. Marines. “Jurisdictions like Los Angeles that flout federal law by prioritizing illegal aliens over American citizens are undermining law enforcement at every level — it ends under President Trump,” Attorney General Pamela Bondi said. The city’s policy prohibits federal agents from using city resources — staff and property — for immigration enforcement, and does not allow the city to cooperate with such efforts. L.A. has been a sanctuary city since 2019. Joining us on AirTalk are Hydee Feldstein Soto, L.A. City Attorney, Jean Lantz Reisz, associate professor of law at USC, and Justin Levitt, professor of constitutional law at Loyola Marymount.
How immigration sweeps are impacting California’s agriculture sector
California has often been described as a Garden of Eden, and for good reason. Its temperate climate and rich soil had led it to be the nation’s largest producer of exported fruits, vegetables, and nuts as of the 2024. But recent immigration sweeps and raids undertaken by federal immigration enforcement could hamper the over $50 billion industry. According to research from the University of California, Merced, about a third of farmworkers in the state are undocumented. If mass deportations were to be carried out, the research shows that the state’s agriculture sector could see a contraction of up to 14%. Joining Larry to discuss the impact that current, and future immigration enforcement actions are and can have have on California’s economy are Teresa Romero, president of United Farm Workers, the nation’s largest farm workers union, Kerry Klein, associate editor and reporter for NPR member station KVPR, and Maria-Elena Young, assistant professor of public health at University of California, Merced.
The word ‘like’ serves many purposes, like…many. A new book aims to demystify it
Ever been called out for using the word ‘like’ too much? Accused by grammar purists of using the word to fill space? If you have, then it might be the case that both you and the word have been misunderstood. “Like” serves many purposes—it can express surprise, fill pauses, add emphasis, and more. While it may have originated as slang, it has evolved to be part of both casual and serious conversations. In her book, Megan Reynolds explores the complex history and usage of this often-dismissed word. She also reveals how its usage has been used to diminish those perceived as having less societal power—such as women, young people, and members of various subcultures. Joining us today on AirTalk is Megan Reynolds, editor at Dwell magazine and author of the new book Like: A History of the World's Most Hated (and Misunderstood) Word.
Legislators weaken environmental law that critics say hampered CA housing development — what now?
The long-maligned law that critics have cited as one of the biggest obstacles to housing development in California is no more, after the passing of a state budget-related housing bill. That bill severely limits the scope of the California Environmental Quality Act, which until yesterday opened up most housing development projects to litigation if individuals or groups said their related environmental reviews weren’t up to snuff. These lawsuits, and even just the threat of them, have hampered new housing projects and added complexity and costs to the home building process. Proponents of CEQA say the law is a powerful tool in California’s climate toolbox. Today on AirTalk, we look at what the post-CEQA housing and climate world look like with Asha Sharma, state policy manager at Leadership Counsel for Justice and Accountability and Matthew Lewis, Director of Communications for California YIMBY.
What to expect from the summer travel season this year
Summer travel season has commenced, with many folks either on holiday or taking time off. Although there have been fears about the Trump Administration’s potential impact on foreign travel, it looks like many people are still planning their domestic trips, with AAA projecting a record number of short distance traveling this Independence Day weekend. But what should we expect from international travel? Will folks be leaving or arriving at the same amount as prior years, particularly as other countries see the well documented issues that migrants in the United States have faced. Joining us to understand what summer travel season is expected to look like this year is Leslie Josephs, CNBC airlines reporter, and Gianella Ghiglino, spokesperson for the Automobile Club of Southern California. We also want to hear from you: have your summer traveling plans changed this year as a result of the airport detentions? For those in the travel industry, have you seen any changes to international tourism and travel? Join the conversation by calling us at 866-893-5722 or email atcomments@laist.com.
Lost in translation: we ask listeners to share the words they think are better left untranslated
In a city as diverse as L.A., it's common to hear multiple languages spoken in a day. But, if you actually listen you'll often hear an interspersal of English words mixed in. Or, as is the case with many Angelenos, the use of certain Spanish words even within an English conversation. Sometimes it's because a direct translation of the word doesn't exist, or it just sounds better in a particular language. Today on AirTalk, we want to hear from our multilingual listeners about the words they think are better expressed in their native language. Ones that don't have an equivalent translation or whose meaning gets dampened if translated. What's the advantage of using the untranslated term? Give us a call at 866-893-5722. Or email us at atcomments@laist.com.
